Violating the Confidentiality Rules

41:02:15

"How are you feeling, Fang Qian?"

That afternoon, Guan Tong looked at Fang Qian, who sat on a stool with a vacant stare, and asked.

"Ah... ah?"

After going more than thirty hours without sleep, Fang Qian was in Not Good shape, her reactions clearly becoming sluggish.

Guan Tong was just as exhausted, but he could still hold on.

Fang Qian rubbed her heavy eyelids. "Was I spacing out just now... Guan Tong, how much longer is there?"

"Forty-one hours left."

"That long..." Fang Qian's nose stung, and she had the urge to cry.

She was unbearably sleepy right now, and she truly wanted to lie down and sleep.

But her will to survive kept her from suggesting it. She did not even dare close her eyes to rest.

She was terrified that if she kept her eyes shut, she might accidentally doze off and never wake up again.

"Don't give up." Guan Tong encouraged her. "Think about your parents. They're still holding on too."

"...Mm."

Fang Qian's parents were indeed still alive. They had called three or four hours ago to make sure their daughter was safe.

"Go get some fresh air by the window," Guan Tong suggested.

Fang Qian nodded and got up, walking over to the window.

Compared to yesterday, it was much quieter outside now. There were hardly any loud noises anymore.

Probably because after listening to them for a full day and night, everyone's ears and minds had been thoroughly tormented.

Even if loud music helped keep people awake, listening to it for too long would still make them uncontrollably irritated and agitated, which might be even worse for survival.

So by today, things had become much quieter.

Fang Qian looked out at the deserted street, struggling with all her strength against fatigue and drowsiness.

Ring, ring, ring!

Her phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was her father calling.

Surprised, she answered. "Dad?"

"Qianqian, listen to me. I have something very important to tell you!" Her father's voice sounded extremely anxious over the phone.

"What is it?" Fang Qian asked nervously. "Don't tell me Mom..."

"Your mother is fine. This concerns your safety! Listen, is your classmate beside you right now? Can he hear what I'm saying?"

"Him?" Fang Qian turned her head. Guan Tong was sitting on a stool in the living room reading a book. From that far away, he definitely could not hear her.

"He can't hear... Should I go over to him?"

"No!" Fang Qian's father said gravely. "Qianqian, listen carefully. The research institute has classified information! It's a hidden piece of information about the Apocalypse Rules!"

"Wha..."

"Don't speak. Listen to me. As long as anyone finds someone and knocks them unconscious, they can obtain an item called a 'Sobering Mint Candy.' Using it grants three hours of absolute wakefulness!"

Fang Qian froze when she heard that.

"Did you hear me? Qianqian, no matter who it is, just use anything to knock him unconscious—"

An unfamiliar male voice suddenly cut in, questioning Fang Qian's father.

"Dr. Fang, who are you talking to?"

"You have violated the Confidentiality Rules. Stop immediately!"

"Qianqian! Remember what I said. If you can't hold on, use this method, understand? You have to survive—"

"Stop immediately!"

"That's my phone! Give it back, you barbaric—"

Beep, beep, beep...

The call was forcibly disconnected. Fang Qian stared blankly for a few seconds and tried calling back, but all she heard was the automated message: "The number you have dialed is powered off."

What Dad said... was it true?

Knock someone unconscious... Sobering Mint Candy... three hours of absolute wakefulness...

"Fang Qian."

"Ah!"

Guan Tong's voice suddenly came from behind her, startling her badly.

She stiffly turned around and saw Guan Tong looking at her with a slightly strange expression.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine..." Fang Qian forced a smile onto her face. "It was my dad calling. He said... no, it's nothing..."

Guan Tong nodded, his gaze thoughtful.

Anyone who had gone more than thirty hours without sleep would definitely act differently than usual. But Fang Qian was showing a strange trace of panic.

Fang Qian looked at Guan Tong and remembered what her father had said on the phone, feeling a chill run through her.

She knew there was a very high chance that her father had been telling the truth!

Her parents had joined the expert council organized by the authorities, specifically to study the Apocalypse Rules.

And as a father, he could not possibly deceive his daughter over a Major Event involving life and death...

No, no, no!

Fang Qian bit her lip and shook her head.

She knew she absolutely should not be having such thoughts. Even if her father was right, so what?

If she knocked someone unconscious, that person would die!

I can't be that kind of person. I can't...

Fang Qian believed she had never done anything bad in her life, so how could she possibly hurt someone now?

Especially when Guan Tong had kindly let her come to his home so they could fight the rules together. She knew that if she had stayed home alone, she would most likely have already been defeated by the rules...

Fang Qian took several deep breaths in a row, steadying her emotions.

Perhaps because the information her father had given her was too shocking and terrifying, her overwhelming drowsiness had vanished from fright. Her mind felt much clearer.

"This is good..." Fang Qian muttered softly.

As long as she could maintain her current state, she would definitely make it to the end.

There was no need at all to use the terrible method her father had mentioned over the phone.

Mm, no need...

"Guan Tong, I found a new show. Want to watch it together?" Fang Qian sat back down on her stool. She needed to shift her attention away from the Sobering Mint Candy.

"Sure. You pick."

Fang Qian found a thriller series neither of them had watched before.

The spine-chilling plot really did help keep them awake.

And perhaps because they had pushed through their sleepiness after staying up for so long, both of them felt less drowsy.

They continued watching shows for nearly ten hours.

During that time, aside from watching television, they only ate One Meal, though they showered several times.

To make the stimulation stronger, they both took cold showers, and the effect was indeed quite good.

Many people online were also posting that they took cold showers at intervals to stay awake.

But as time passed, the number of active people online was undoubtedly decreasing.

Many users who had made timekeeping posts and replied once every hour had stopped updating, clearly unable to hold on any longer.

The atmosphere online also grew increasingly violent. Many people had begun arranging to ignore the ban together and go to hospitals to obtain medication that could help keep them awake.

"Guan Tong." Fang Qian suddenly spoke after looking at her phone. "It seems like the internet isn't working anymore."

"The internet's down?"

Both their voices had become somewhat hoarse. After staying awake for so long, signs of sickness were beginning to show.

Guan Tong took out his own phone and checked. Sure enough, it said there was no network service.

Fang Qian guessed, "Did the people responsible for maintaining it fall asleep...?"

"Not necessarily." As soon as Guan Tong finished speaking, they heard a huge commotion coming from downstairs.